Sambhav Jain

  

Volume 8 | Issue III | September 2024

The Shri Ram School Moulsari ’25

Haryana, India

  

I have been on an endless journey of expanding the boundaries of learning through research, writing, and philosophizing. Captivated by the world around me, I incorporate the insights acquired from various disciplines into my intellectual endeavors. I have always been an active debater, and I think it is through this activity that my interest in philosophy developed. I came across the field of population ethics quite coincidentally whilst researching the philosopher Derek Parfit for an entirely separate topic, and then discovered his book Reasons and Persons. Ever since, I have been fascinated by this somewhat neglected but critical field in philosophy. In my paper, I take a novel approach to dealing with Parfit’s repugnant conclusion, also known as the mere addition paradox, by treating it as a thought experiment. My experience in writing this research paper has been exhilarating, and I wish to thank my friends, family, and anyone willing to listen to late-night ideas on the topic. This was my initial foray into crafting and authoring an original philosophical argument, and I am thankful to the editors at The Schola for their insights and for providing me with the platform to publish my work. I want my research to have a practical application in the world, and I have started addressing the issue of depopulation to apply my research findings to a real-world problem. Beyond academic pursuits, I enjoy reading books, engaging in stimulating discussions, and cherishing moments with loved ones.